An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 2 eBook

The weather in November was, for the first and middle
parts, very unsettled, blowing hard at times with
much rain. On one day, there fell a shower of
hail, the stones of which were each as big as a lark’s
egg. The latter part of the month was fair, and
favourable for reaping the grain.

CHAPTER VII

Bennillong and Cole-be
Various particulars respecting the natives
Ye-ra-nibe killed
A settler’s house burnt through malice
Schools at Sydney
Two settlers drink for a wager
The body of a soldier found
Criminal court
The Francis sails for the wreck
Weather
Houses burnt
Public labour
Harvest
Account of live stock and ground in cultivation

December.] A circumstance occurred about the beginning
of this month, that excited much interest in the town
of Sydney, and great commotion among the natives.
Two of these people, both of them well known in the
settlement, (Cole-be, the friend of Bennillong, and
one of the Ye-ra-ni-bes) meeting in the town, while
their bosoms were yet swelling on occasion of some
former difference, attacked each other. Cole-be
had always been remarked for his activity, but Ye-ra-ni-be
had more youth than his adversary, and was reckoned
a perfect match for him. On closing on each other,
with their clubs, until which time Cole-be had not
gained any advantage over Ye-ra-ni-be, the handle
of Ye-ra-ni-be’s shield drew out, and it consequently
fell from his grasp: while stooping to take it
up, the other struck him on the head with a club, which
staggered him, and followed his blow while he was
in that defenceless situation.

Cole-be knew that this would ensure him the appellation
of jeerun, or coward, and that the friends of Ye-ra-ni-be
would as certainly take up his cause. As the
consequences might be very serious if he should die
of the blow, he thought it prudent to abscond for
a while, and Yera-ni-be was taken care of by some
of his white friends. This happened on the 10th,
and on the 16th he died. In this interval he was
constantly attended by some of his male and female
associates, particularly by his two friends, Collins
(for Gnung-a Gnung-a still went by the late judge-advocate’s
name) and Mo-roo-bra. On one of the nights when
a most dismal song of lamentation had been sung over
him, in which the women were the principal performers,
his male friends, after listening for some time with
great apparent attention, suddenly started up, and,
seizing their weapons, went off in a most savage rage,
determined on revenge. Knowing pretty well where
to meet with Cole-be, they beat him very severely,
but would not kill him, reserving that gratification
of their revenge until the fate of their companion
should be decided. On the following night, Collins
and Mo-roo-bra attacked a relation of Cole-be’s,
Boo-ra-wan-ye, whom they beat about the head with such
cruelty that his recovery was doubtful. As their
vengeance extends to all the family and relations
of a culprit, what a misfortune it must be to be connected
with a man of a choleric disposition!